Deborah Potts, director of Summit Advisory, Elman Wall's M&A arm, saids: "All of us at the Elman Wall Group are very proud to have created what we believe is a UK Travel Industry first.

"Our Summit for 180 CEOS & MDs of privately-owned travel businesses will, as usual, cover a challenging array of relevant business topics. What's different this year is that all our speakers will be women. Furthermore, we are delighted that we were able to invite 10 travel companies to nominate a Rising Female Star to attend as a second delegate."

Jonathan Wall, MD Elman Wall, added: "I'm excited that our prestigious Travel Directors' Summit will be truly creating history this year and pleased, too, that our own Board recently promoted two of our female staff, Laura Quirke and Karen Gill, to Associate Directorships. Both of them will be joining our impressive female speaker line-up."